Washington Conference

Hokitika Guardian, 8 November 1921, Page 2

Washington Conference

It Slltll IA.S AM) N.Z DAIIi.K AS:III lITIIIV IiIUTiSH VIEWS. NEW YORK, Nov. C Colonel Ropington writes: "Tliere is a certain quiet confidence in tlie object which President Harding had in calling the Duarimiment Conference. Remarkable goodwill has heen shown by all the delegations. Presumably this reflects the sentiments and intentions of their Governments. No exception can he discovered to this rule and the relations will remain amicable, provided that no Power seeks to indict others, or to snatch a selfish advantage from certain diverencies of interest. It is said that armament limitation plans will now he restricted to capital ships, hut 1 do not think this restriction will necessarily terminate the rivalry in naval armaments. The best way, perhaps, would he for each delegation from the three Great Powers o bring forward its own scheme in turn. Then a combination of the best lon lures' of all the plans may give the result desired. The crux of the conference will he China. The rectitude and sense of justice shown by the American Goiciunient has enabled China tor the first time to state her case openly before the world, and to demand the redress to which she is entitled. It is hoped that she will lie wise and make her points wvitli consideration, and without- venom. It will he a strong case, and no Power present will tinfl its withers unwrung when all the facts ate presented. Never was there such a dirty Augean stable, and Mr Hughes is the Hercules proposing U) clean it. Japan, if appearances go for anything, is now going to show her Western and not Eastern face. She protests that she is no longer the Japan of the 21 demands, and if this is so, we are glad, though her conversion appears to have heen sudden.’